Advocates push for marijuana legalization in Delaware

CORRECTION: Earlier versions of this story had an incorrect title for Cathy Rossi of AAA. Her statements also were clarified. 

Speaker after speaker urged Gov. John Carney to change his mind and support the legalization of marijuana Wednesday.

“It’s time for this natural, organic, pure plant to be set free,” said Hector Ortez, a cancer survivor from Camden, at a roundtable discussion at Delaware Technical Community College's Wilmington campus. “Everyone should have the human right to use cannabis legally. We are not criminals unless the law makes us criminals.”

Carney stayed mostly quiet as legislators, advocates and residents extolled the virtues they see in the proposed Delaware Marijuana Control Act, a 39-page bill introduced in the General Assembly last month. If approved, the legislation would make the First State the ninth state in the nation to legalize the recreational use and sale of cannabis.

The governor has voiced his opposition to the bill but says he is willing to hear from all sides – a process that included Wednesday's roundtable.

"I'm here to listen," Carney said at the outset.

A handful of opponents also attended, but all of the roundtable panelists and most of those who spoke during the public comment portion were clearly supporters.

"Times are changing," said state Rep. Helene Keeley, D-South Wilmington, sponsor of the bill that would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana. "As people become more educated and get past misconceptions, there has been growing support."

BACKGROUND: Details on the legalization bill in the General Assembly

Keeley said the bill would open a whole new industry in Delaware that would create new jobs growing and selling cannabis, as well as secondary jobs in construction and maintenance of cultivation, manufacturing, testing and retail facilities.

Keeley said she routinely gets comments while out walking her dog from "people who wear scrubs, people who wear suits and ties," all of whom want her to "keep pushing forward" with the legalization effort.

THE BACKSTORY: More on the fight advocates face in the General Assembly

State Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East and the bill's Senate sponsor, said it was an issue of "criminal and social justice."

"If you look at our prison system, there are a lot of people in jail for low-level drug crimes that don't belong there," Henry said. "If this legislation passes, we won't be arresting people unnecessarily."

Carney scheduled Wednesday's event after he was repeatedly bombarded by questions about legalization during a series of town hall meetings about the state's budget woes.

In addition to the legislators, the roundtable included the leaders of several organizations that are supporting Keeley and Henry's bill, such as the NAACP, the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network and the Delaware branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Zoe Patchell, of the Cannabis Network, argued "cannabis prohibition" is a policy just as costly and counterproductive as the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s.

"Delaware wastes millions of dollars arresting people like myself who choose a healthier, safer alternative to alcohol," she said.

Patchell said the state would save millions of dollars on law enforcement while bringing in new revenues. If they knew it would make the consumption of cannabis safer, Patchell said users would be glad to pay a new tax.

"That doesn't happen very often," Carney said wryly.

Other speakers said current drug laws have led to over-incarceration and the blossoming of a dangerous black market.

"The growing cost of the failed drug war is too great to ignore," said Linwood Jackson, president of the Delaware Branch of the NAACP.

He said the ban on marijuana was "an attempt to demonize and criminalize a whole race of people," noting that black Americans are far more likely to be arrested on marijuana charges than white people.

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After the roundtable, Carney took about a dozen comments from the standing-room-only audience.

Opponents, such as Bruce Lorenz of Milford, asked Carney to “put the brakes on” the bill, arguing that more information is needed and revenue estimates are overblown while claiming legalization would spur – not eliminate – the existing black market.

Cathy Rossi, vice president of public and governmental affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said before the forum started that the public does not fully understand the unintended consequences that come with legalization.

That includes more drivers traveling the roads while under the influence of drugs.

“It also creates an entirely new, costly public infrastructure,” she said. “It means a lot of young people will begin to munch on the edibles that has a much higher potency and more babies will be born high.”

John Nichols, a Middletown resident who opposes legalization, called on Carney to hold a similar roundtable with opponents.

“We will,” Carney said.

Nichols asked when.

“As soon as we can,” the governor answered.

Carney's staff had previously said no such meetings were scheduled.

“I want to keep an open mind and hear from the other side,” Carney said afterward. “If we’re going to do this, we ought to do it with our eyes wide open and we ought to do it in a way that addresses some of the serious potential problems that exist.”

Lorenz and Nichols were clearly outnumbered by supporters of legalization. Some urged Carney to put the issue to voters if he did not want to sign legislation himself.

Malcolm Coley, a recent transplant to Wilmington from New Jersey, said he’s in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana sales and use.

“It generates revenue and will cut down on incarceration,” he said. “I think it would be a great thing, and this event is awesome.”

Monte Ross, the former coach of the University of Delaware men’s basketball team, said he drove down from his home in Media, Pennsylvania, to learn more about the debate.

“I’m still engaged in the community and am always interested where there is a hot topic going on,” said Ross, who added that he has never consumed marijuana. “I’m still learning about it, but anything that can help others, I’m all for. … I think it’s tremendous for Gov. Carney to keep an open mind and listen to the pros and cons.”

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2428 or on Twitter @TNJ_malbright. Contact business reporter Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, sgoss@delawareonline.com, or on Twitter @scottgossdel.